Sam and Jump

A sweet, reassuring story about friendship for all young readers who have ever loved, and lost, a special toy.

From the illustrator of Two Speckled Eggs comes a charming story of friends, old and new, and a story for anyone who has ever loved, and lost, their most special toy. Sam and his stuffed bunny, Jump, are the best of friends. They do everything together. One day, on a trip to the beach, Sam meets Thomas. Sam and Thomas play together all day long. But when Sam gets home, he realizes he left Jump at the beach! It’s late and dark – much too late and dark to go find him – and Sam worries all night long. What if Jump is nowhere to be found? Can Sam really brave the world without his very best friend? Little ones with their own favourite toy will be drawn to this sweet, reassuring story about losing something dear only to find something – or someone – even better.

Jennifer K. Mann used to be an architect, but became a children's book author and illustrator when she realized she preferred drawing people better than buildings. She is the creator of the picture books Two Speckled Eggs and I Will Never Get a Star on Mrs. Benson's Blackboard. About the inspiration behind this book, Jennifer says: "When I was young, I left my Raggedy Ann doll at the beach and then spent a long night fretting. In the morning, I found her, soggy and sandy, at the edge of the water. That feeling of losing a beloved toy, the empty space its absence creates, is something I think we all can relate to." Jennifer lives in the USA, on an island near Seattle, with her husband, children, dogs, cats and chickens.